510 Mr. Warington W. Smyth ^ [May 23, 



would now mention a fact of which there was no longer any grounds 

 for concealment. In 1855 he submitted to the surveyor of the navy a 

 drawing and model of tlie ' Warrior ' class of ships. That model was 

 now on the table, and exhibited all the important features of construc- 

 tion of the ' Warrior' class. But the Admiralty delayed the construction 

 of the first ship of the class till 1859; and so we lost our just claim to 

 the original design of iron ships in armour, with sea-going qualities and 

 speed united. It was Sir John Pakington who, in 1858, first ordered 

 an iron fleet to be commenced, on a joint design of himself, Mr. Scott 

 Russell, and the Surveyor of the Navy. But the French Emperor had 

 already commenced the ' Gloire ;' so that instead of being, as we might 

 have been, three years ahead of the French Emperor, our delay had 

 given him the lead, and deprived us of our true priority. He concluded 

 by expressing a hope, that the delays and doubts of the Admiralty 

 might now end ; that a fleet of enlarged ' Warriors ' would speedily be 

 constructed, fit to carry English sailors on every sea where our colonies 

 and commerce required their protection ; and that no more of our 

 time or money would be wasted in the consideration or construction of 

 inferior classes of vessel, unfit for ocean navigation, and good only to 

 stay at home until the enemy should choose to come and be hurt. We 

 had now proved our * Warrior ' class to be sound, wholesome sea-going 

 ships, and to be unparalleled in speed. Of course, improvements would 

 in future be made, and> changes introduced. But when our construc- 

 tions truly embodied the best knowledge and experience of their time, 

 our responsibility was fulfilled, and at present we know of no match for 

 the enlarged ' Warrior ' class of 7000 tons, and therefore there can 

 no longer remain any excuse for continuing in our present inefficient 

 condition. 



[J. S. R.] 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, May 23, 1862. 



The Duke of Northumberi.a.nd, K.G. F.R.S., President, 

 in the Chair. 



Warington W. Smyth, Esq. F.R.S. 

 On Coal 



The speaker commenced by proposing to select one portion only of 

 a very large subject ; and, neglecting chemical and statistical and 

 mining particulars with reference to this important mineral, to confine 

 himself to the physical conditions under which it is found to occur. 

 The enormous value of the coal of this country might be understood 

 from the simple facts that nearly 300,000 of our fellow-subjects find 



